Tesco introduces clear caps for recyclable milk bottles

Tesco introduces clear caps for recyclable milk bottles

Sustainability

Tesco is enhancing the recyclability of its own brand milk bottles by replacing coloured caps with clear ones. This change, applied to about 425 million bottles annually, simplifies recycling and improves material recovery. By using clear caps, Tesco enables the caps to be reused for new milk bottles. Customers are encouraged to flatten empty bottles, reattach the clear caps, and recycle them efficiently.

This shift eliminates the need for separate plastic processing and redirects 3,900 tonnes of recycled plastic annually into new bottle production. The process can be repeated with each recycling cycle.

This change applies to all Tesco stores and various milk bottle sizes – 4 pint, 2 pint, and 1 pint. Milk variants remain discernible through coloured labels.

Aligned with its 4Rs strategy – remove, reduce, reuse, and recycle – Tesco continues its commitment to sustainable practices. It recently unveiled a trial of fresh mince ‘pillow packs’, using 70% less plastic and fully recyclable through in-store soft plastic collection points.

Exterior Tesco Heart Express store credit Tesco PLC
Exterior Tesco Heart Express store © Tesco PLC
James Waddy, Category Director for Dairy, said: Ensuring our packaging is as sustainable as possible is really important to us, and customer feedback on our trial of these new clear milk caps has been overwhelmingly positive. We will continue to look for ways to improve the packaging of our products, and make it even easier for customers to recycle at home.

Tesco's ongoing efforts have led to the removal of over 2.2 billion plastic pieces from its UK operations.

Latest Packaging News

What Washington’s new EPR law means for brands, recyclers, and policymakers
Business

What Washington’s new EPR law means for brands, recyclers, and policymakers

On 17 May 2025, Governor Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 5284, officially known as the Recycling...
Unlocking small-batch agility: Kutudeposu chooses Aopack BM2508 box maker
Supplier News

Unlocking small-batch agility: Kutudeposu chooses Aopack BM2508 box maker

Confronted with rising demand for specialised, small-batch packaging, Turkish innovator Kutudeposu...
Snack Connection enhances efficiency with the case packer from Syntegon
Supplier News

Snack Connection enhances efficiency with the case packer from Syntegon

Snack Connection, a leading Netherlands-based manufacturer of nuts, kernels, and seeds, has...
Costco to sell planters made from recycled cartons in collaboration with Tetra Pak & Keter
Supplier News

Costco to sell planters made from recycled cartons in collaboration with Tetra Pak & Keter

Tetra Pak and Keter have announced a new partnership with the launch of Cube Planters made out of...
Reloop report finds 54% less beach litter in countries with DRS
Sustainability

Reloop report finds 54% less beach litter in countries with DRS

Reloop has released its latest report, Littered with Evidence: Proof that Deposit Return Systems...